Tommy Goran's Blog(4)

As the fire service has evolved, we have had to adapt from our original conception of just putting out fires. In today’s fire service, we must be jacks of all trades! We are medical professionals, hazmat guru’s, technical rescue specialists, among many other things. With all of these different disciplines there is an abundance of knowledge that we have had to acquire/learn.

How did we learn these skills? Some have gone through a basic entry level program, whether that…

Whether you're the new guy/girl to a crew, the senior member or an officer taking on the "new guy/girl", it is important to understand the phases of group development and how to be the best version of your self during each phase! I'm sure most of us have seen the group development model developed by Bruce Tuckman in 1965. His theory states that there are 4 phases (Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing) that are inevitable and necessary in…

Credibility may be one of the hardest things to build during a career, simply because it takes time and consistency. You do not build your credibility overnight, it is something that is built over years of consistently applying the same morals, values, and ethics to every decision you make, whether on the fire ground or on an emergency scene. One may ask themselves what steps can I take to begin developing my credibility and get started on the road to being a great leader? In this…

As a firefighter, most of us focus on pushing our operating limits. Some of these times, we find ourselves in uncharted territory. This uncharted territory creates situations where we have a decision to make – take the risk or not. The safest and least critical decision is to do nothing. It is a promise that you will never be criticized if you meet status quo. However, meeting status quo is not how a leader thinks.…